Bereavement Care

No matter how you have experienced the loss of your loved one, the blessing that will enfold you and sustain you is found in mourning the death of the deceased; giving thanks to God for, and celebrating the life of the deceased; and hearing God's Word of comfort and hope for the living.

There are essentially four options for bringing worshipful ceremony to the passing of a loved one: a church service, a funeral home service, a graveside service or an interment with a memorial service later on when weather or travel considerations are more conducive. Within the Christian tradition there is no distinction drawn between casket burials or interment of ashes.

If there is to be a funeralIn the case of a funeral, the bulk of the planning is done with the Funeral Director. The time and date of the service need to be finalized in consultation with the pastor. It is preferred that the clergy costs be handled as part of the financial arrangement with the funeral home. For planning purposes, the Clergy stipend is $175, and the musician's stipend (if there is to be a church service) is $100.

If there is to be a memorial serviceThe family will meet with the pastor(s) to plan for the memorial service. This meeting should be scheduled as soon as possible. If the deceased has left formal or informal instructions for the funeral service, those instructions will be incorporated into the planning process. The family can assist the process by beginning to respond to the following items prior to meeting the pastor: are there favorite hymns or Scriptures? Would family members wish to share a reading or remembrance? Are there items that would make a heart-warming display?

The style of worshipWe offer great flexibility in designing a meaningful service. The funeral/memorial service can be either traditional or contemporary whether it is in the church or in the funeral home. Many families prefer the traditional form and music, while others have taken great comfort from video presentation of images and music that best capture the memories of the deceased.